Adjustable flanges for various width roll papers



Jan. 16, 1962 o. w. GNAGE ETAL 3,017,132

ADJUSTABLE FLANGES FOR VARIOUS WIDTH ROLL PAPERS Filed April 22, 1960 Ol 0e WG-na e John li ollo' lc HVVENTDRS United Statm Patent 3,017,132 ADJUSTABLE FLANGES FOR VARIOUS WIDTH ROLL PAPERS Oliver W. Gnage and John S. Pollock, Rochester, N.Y.,

assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 23,952 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-713) This invention relates generally to spindles, and more specifically to an improved roll-supporting spindle mechanism having an axially adjustable flange portion.

In photo-graphic printers, it is necessary to maintain the center line of a web of print paper in a predetermined position in order to properly position the paper with respect to the printing aperture. It is normally desirable for the operator to maintain this predetermined center line no matter What the width of the print paper may happen to be, this width normally ranging from 2 /2 inches to 5 inches in A-inch increments. 'In order to maintain this common center line, it is necessary for the operator to axially adjust the supply and takeup spindles to re-position the rear flange of the spindle against which the roll of print material bears.

Therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an improved roll-supporting spindle having an axially movable rear flange portion which is adapted to be releasably held in a selected position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved roll-support spindle that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved roll-support spindle having a fixed roll-supporting portion and an axially movable roll support portion axially spaced therefrom. I

An additional object of this invention is the provision of an improved roll-support spindle having an axially movable flange portion including a radially movable roll-support ring for releasably locking the flange portion in a selected position.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, showing a preferred embodiment of the roll-support spindle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and omitting the roll of print material; and

FIG. 3 is a right end elevation view of the spindle of FIG. 1 with the roll of print material omitted therefrom.

As shown in the drawings, the roll support spindle mechanism comprises a stub shaft 6 having a first cylindrical portion 7, and an adjacent substantially cylindrical portion 8 having a larger diameter than portion 7. The portion 8 is cylindrical except for diametrically opposed flat sections 9 to which springs 11 are secured as best seen in FIG. 3 for frictionally engaging the inner periphery of a core 12 on which a roll 13 of print material is wound. The portion 7 has a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves 14 for a purpose to become apparent hereinafter. The stub shaft 6 is rotatably driven by any suitable drive means, not shown, connected thereto by means of a shaft 15. An axially movable support member 16 comprises a ring 17 loosely mounted on portion 7 and having an annular flange 18 secured to one end thereof to provide a back stop for roll 13. An outer ring 19 concentric with ring 17 and stub shaft 6 has an outer diameter equal to the diameter of portion 8, and encircles ring 17 as best seen in FIG. 2. A radially extending guide member 21 of any suitable shape is secured by a screw 22 to the inner periphery of ring 19, and extends through a complementary shaped opening in ring 17. The guide member 21 further has a key 23 at the end thereof adapted to selectively extend into one of the grooves 14 of portion 7. The ring 19 is further provided with another guide member 24 diametrically opposed to guide member 21 andsecured by a screw 25 to the inner periphery of ring 19, and adapted to extend into a complementary opening formed by ring 17. A leaf spring 26 is interposed between rings 17 and 19, and has an opening intermediate its ends through which guide member 24 extends. The leaf spring 26 urges ring 19 upwardly along a chord line designated A-A passing through the centers of portion 7 and members 21, 24-, as seen in FIG. 2, and urging key 23 into one of the grooves 14 of portion 7. In this position, ring 19 is concentric with stub shaft 6, and in cooperation with portion 8 supports core 12 of roll 13 as best seen in FIG. 1.

'In the operation of this invention, movable support member 16 is properly positioned so that the longitudinal center of the roll of print material coincides with the center line of the print aperture which is designated in FIG. 1 as C/L. The operator then takes a roll of print material of the proper width as seen in FIG. 1 and slides it over portion 8 and ring 19 into engagement with flange 18. The springs 11 frictionally engage the core of the roll so that rotation of stub shaft 6 causes rotation of the roll of print material. Let us assume that the operator uses the entire roll of print material and then desires to use some print material of greater width. The opera tor then removes the core of the previous roll, depresses ring '19 along line A-A against the bias of spring 26 withdrawing key 23 from groove 14, axially moves member 16 to the left into the dotted position as seen in FIG. 1 until key 23 is in register with the next groove 14, and then releases ring 19 permitting spring 26 to urge key 23 into this new groove. The new roll of print material with its core is then slid onto portion 8 and ring 19 into engagement with flange 18. In this position, the longitudinal center line of the new roll of print material coincides with the common center line C/ L of the print aperture.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein above and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a roll-supporting spindle mechanism, the combination comprising: a shaft having a first substantially cylindrical portion of a predetermined outside diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of a roll to be supported, and a second cylindrical portion of an outside diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter; and a member mounted on said second portion and axially movable thereon into one of a plurality of positions, said member having a cylindrical support and a stop means for said roll, said support having an outside diameter substantially equal to said predetermined diameter and co-operating with said first portion to receive and support said roll which is adapted to be mounted thereon completely encircling said support and first portion with one end of said roll abutting said stop means, said member further having means cooperating with said second portion for releasably latching said member to said second portion in one of said axial positions.

2. In a roll-supporting spindle mechanism, the combination comprising: a shaft having a first portion of a predetermined outside dimension and a second portion of an outside dimension smaller than said predetermined dimension; and a member having an outside dimension equal to said predetermined dimension and adapted to co-operate with said first portion to support a roll, said member further comprising an inner ring mounted on said second portion and axially movable thereon into one of a plurality of axial positions, and an outer ring cooperating with said inner ring and said second portion and movable between a normal position in which said outer ring is concentric with said first portion and said member is releasably latched to said second portion in a selected axial position, and a release position in which said member is eccentric to and unlatched from said second portion for axial movement thereon.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said outer ring encircles said inner ring and is carried thereby.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein a spring is interposed between said inner and outer rings and urges said outer ring intosaid normal position.

5. In a roll-supporting spindle mechanism, the combination comprising: a shaft having a first portion of a predetermined outside dimension and a second portion of an outside dimension smaller than said predetermined dimension, said second portion having a plurality of axially spaced grooves; and a member having an outside dimension equal to said predetermined dimension and adapted to co-operate with said first portion to support a roll, said member comprising an inner ring mounted on said second portion and axially movable thereon into one of a plurality of axial positions, an outer ring encircling said inner ring, guide means for positioning and guiding said outer ring with respect to said inner ring, said guide means further having a projection adapted to be inserted in one of said grooves, and a first spring interposed between said inner and outer rings for urging said outer ring from a release position in which said projection is removed from a groove for axial movement of said member on said second portion, to a normal position in which said outer ring is concentric with said first portion and said projection is urged into a groove for releasably latching said member to said second portion in a selected axial position.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said inner ring has an annular flange against which a roll adapted to be placed on said spindle abuts, and further has diametrically opposed radial openings, and said guide means comprises diametrically opposed elements secured to the inner periphery of said outer ring and slidably received by said openings, and said projection is formed by one of said elements.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said first spring is a leaf spring having a central opening through which the others of said elements extend, and said first portion has a second spring mounted on its periphery adapted to engage a roll placed on said spindle for driving the same.

8. In a roll-supporting spindle mechanism, the combination comprising: a shaft having a first substantially cylindrical portion of a predetermined outside diameter and an adjacent second cylindrical portion of a diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter, said second portion having a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves; an inner ring rotatably mounted on said second portion and axially movable thereon into one of a plurality of axial positions and further having an annular flange secured thereto forming a back stop for a roll adapted to be placed on said spindle, said inner ring further having diametrically opposed radial openings; an outer ring encircling said inner ring and having diametrically opposedradially extending elements secured to the inner periphery thereof and extending into said radial openings for slidable movement relative thereto, one of said elements having a projection adapted to be inserted in one of said grooves, said outer ring further having an outer diameter equal to said predetermined diameter and cooperating therewith to support and drive a roll when placed on said spindle; and a spring interposed between said inner and outer rings for urging said outer ring from a release position in which said projection is removed from a groove for axial movement of said memher on said second portion to a normal position in which said outer ring is concentric with said first portion and said projection is urged into a groove for releasably latching said inner ring to said second portion in a selected axial position.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said spring is a leaf spring having a central opening through which the other of said elements extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Horn et al Aug. 23, 1938 

